Railroad cross-tie.



E. EVERETT.

RAILROAD CROSS TIE.

APPLICATION HLED IULY 13. 1916.

1 ,QlQflZ, Patented Jan. 16, 1917.

1 T F1 W T 0 liq 00 o O M I w 22 1 0 II I00 00 Q i L I in L J- aw L I 1%) LJ L1 151/ 1 Qua 2/ EDWARD EVERETT, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILROAD CROSS-TIE.

eiaaee.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patenteddan. 16, 1917.

Application filed Jury 13, 1916. Serial No. 109,028.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD EVERETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Railroad Cross-Ties, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates generally to railroad cross-ties, and more particularly to metallic cross-ties and the novel manner of making and using the same.

This invention has for its object the cheap and easy production of a metallic cross-tie, from well known metallic structures, such as I beams and tubes, thereby avoiding the necessity of specially prepared stock as the basis of manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a metallic tie with rail clamps so positioned that by the proper arrangement of the ties in connection with the rails, all ne'- cessity of spiking or bolting now common in wooden and metallic structures, will be entirely avoided, and a still further object is to provide a metallic cross-tie of such construction at each end, that all danger of the tie shifting laterally in the ballast is completely avoided.

\Vith these objects in view, and certain others which will appear hereinafter as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement, all of which will be fully described in detail and set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification Figure 1 is a section of a railroad track and road bed with my improved construction of cross tie shown in elevation; F 2 is a top plan view of a portion of a track; Fig. 3 is a view showing one of the steps in the manufacture of the metallic cross-tie from an I beam; Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the completed cross-tie with rail clamps attached; Fig. 5 is a View illustrating one of the steps in producing a metallic tie from a metallic tube; Fig. 6 is another step and Fig. 7 a detail perspective view of a modified form of tubular tie with rail clamp attached; and Fig. 8 is a detail view illustrating the manner of cutting an ordinary I beam in order to produce a crosstie in accordance with my invention.

In the drawings 1010 indicate the ordiy and ual .fionstruction of railroad rails which are arranged parallel to each other and constitute with the, cross-tiesll the usual railroad track.

When wooden cross-ties have been employed, the rails have been secured by spikes, and when metallic cross-ties have been used the rails have been secured thereto by various forms of fastening devices which have been bolted and otherwise fastened to the cross-ties. Usually four clamps have been required in connection with each crosstie, thereby consuming a considerable amount of time and labor in connecting the rail to the cross-tie. Furthermore all such devices, depending upon bolts and nuts have been found more or less defective for the reason that the constant jarring tends to work the parts loose unless lock nuts of eX- traordinary efficiency are employed. In the proposed metallic cross-tie, all these objections are avoided, as the rail clamp employed in connection with my novel form of tie is permanently welded, riveted or otherwise attached to the cross-tie constituting an integral part of the completed structure, and by the proper location or arrangement of the cross ties, with clamps attached, forms with the rails, a rigid structure holding the rails properly in position and completely avoiding spreading or overturning of said rails so long asthe cross-ties remain in their proper positions.

The metallic cross-tie shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 is made from the well known I beam which is rolled in definite lengths and which can be economically cut into cross-tie lengths and at the same time provide a perfectly square or flat surface at each end of the tie, against which the ballast can be packed or tamped and thereby hold the tie properly positioned.

In Fig. 8 I have indicated the preferred manner of cutting an I beam; which consists in removing a square portion X of the web, cutting through the top flange at Y and through the bottom flange at Z. This leaves a metallic cross-tie 11 with a projecting head flange 12 at one end and a projecting base flange 13 at the opposite end and the projecting end 12 is bent downwardly as shown at 1 1 in Fig. 4 while the projecting portion of the base is turned up as shown at 15, these projecting ends being of such length that when turned down and up as indicated, their edges will be flush with the bottom of the base flange and the top of the head flange respectively, thereby providing a flat end surface at each end of the crosstie.

In Fig. 5 I have showna metallic tube 16 which is cut to proper length, and adjacent each end, the tube is cut transversely through the greater portion of its diameter as indicated at 17, and this partially severed end is then divided and flattened out as shown at 18. This divided and flattened end portion is then turned up as shown at 19 in order to provide a flat bearing surface at each end of the tubular cross-tie.

In Fig. 7 I have shown the end of the tube closed by turning in the edges in order to provide a fiat circular end 20.

The tubular cross-tie can, if desired, be partially flattened upon its top and bottom faces in order to prevent rotation and also provide a broad support for the rails 10.

Rail clamps 21 and 22 are permanently attached to both types of cross-ties in any suitable manner, such as riveting or welding, and it will be noted that these clamps are all arranged in the same manner, or open in the same direction, and furthermore the clamp 21 is arranged adjacent one end of the cross-tie, whereas, the clamp 22 is set some distance back from the opposite end of the crosstie.

In use, the cross-ties are arranged side by side and alternating as shown in Fig. 2, that is, the clamps on the ties engage base flanges of the rails alternately upon opposite sides of said rails, and by so arranging the crossties in connection with the rails it is obvi ous that after the cross-ties have been once properly positioned so as to bring the clamps into proper binding relation with the rails and then permanently positioning the crossties by ballast, it will be impossible for the ties to move. Consequently, the rails will be held in perfect alinement, completely overcoming every tendency to spread or turn, all of which is accomplished without the laborious operations of bolting or spiking, and also effecting a great saving in material, as only half the number of clamps is required.

It is obvious that the rail clamps can be of various designs and could, if desired, be

punched from the metallic cross-tie and it is also obvious that any type of rail clamp could be used in connection with any type of cross-tie so long as the relative arrange ment of said clamps is maintained.

In the manufacture of metallic cross-ties as heretofore practised the tie has been specially constructed and therefore expensive, Whereas I have utilized the common and Well known I beam or tube which can be easily procured, and have therefore eliminated the trouble and expense of a specially prepared article as the initial portion of a complete article of manufacture. Furthermore by having all of the cross-ties complete and similar they are especially adapted for use where quick railroad building is necessary, as in military operations and other emergencies, as it is only necessary to arrange the rails and ties and pack in the ballast at the ends of the ties and the road is completed and all spiking and bolting avoided and the gage must necessarily be accurate.

If desired the tubular form of cross tie could be embedded in concrete, and the tubes could be advantageously filled with cement or concrete.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A railway cross-tie having a one piece body, having substantially coextensive upper and lower bearing portions, the end portions of which are partially severed, the remaining end portions being bent at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the body and adapted to contact with said body.

2. A railway cross-tie comprising a one piece body having substantially co-extensive upper and lower bearing portions, the end portions thereof being partially severed, the unsevered portions being bent at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the body, and rail clamps arranged upon the upper face of said body, said clamps opening in the same direction.

3. A metallic cross tie comprising parallel flanges and a connecting web, said flal'lges projecting at opposite ends beyond said web and bent at right angles in reverse directions thereby providing a flat surface at each end of the tie.

4. A metallic cross-tie I shape in cross section, the head projecting at one end and the base projecting at the opposite end, said projecting ends being bent at right angles in opposite directions.

5. A railway cross-tie comprising a one piece body having substantially coextensive upper and lower bearing portions, the end portions thereof being partially severed, the unsevered portions being bent at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the body, and rail clamps upon the upper face of said tie, said clamps opening in the same direction, one of said clamps being arranged adjacent one end of the body, and the other clamp-arranged some distance from the opposite end of said tie.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EDIVARD EVERETT.

Witnesses:

J. A. IVARFEL, GEORGE D. Sorrnnnmn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

